A Difficult Update: The Future of the Warrior Nun Movie Trilogy

Written by the OCS Newsletter Team

This post was written by the OCS Newsletter Team and is being hosted on Frayed Branches.

Dear Halo Bearers,

It is with a heavy heart that we must address the future of the planned Warrior Nun movie trilogy. As you know, the Warrior Nun family experienced a rollercoaster of emotions when Netflix canceled our beloved series, only to have hope reignited when executive producer Dean English announced a planned movie trilogy. This news was met with joyous celebration, as it meant our fight to save Warrior Nun had yielded a tangible result. However, recent events surrounding Productivity Media Inc. (PMI), the company that was to be instrumental in producing the films, have cast a dark shadow over the project's future. This news, unfortunately, means Warrior Nun is not coming back any time soon, and it is essential to address the situation with honesty and transparency.

What Happened with PMI? A Deep Dive

To understand the current situation, we need to take a closer look at what Productivity Media Inc. was and what has transpired in recent months.

Who Was PMI?

Productivity Media Inc. (PMI) was a Canadian corporation based in Ontario. Along with its subsidiaries, PMI specialized in financing independent film and television projects. They were not a production company in the traditional sense, but rather a financial institution that provided the crucial funding needed to bring creative projects to life. Their business model revolved around providing senior secured debt financing, necessary production financing and the funds to bridge the gap between production and release to independent film and television productions to generate investor returns. Essentially, they were the money behind the movies.

What Was PMI's Role in the Warrior Nun Movies?

Following the unfortunate cancellation of Warrior Nun by Netflix, Dean English, the series' executive producer and a tireless champion for our cause, worked diligently to find a new avenue for the Warrior Nun story to continue. While the rights to the specific version of Warrior Nun that we all loved on Netflix were not available for acquisition, Mr. English held the rights to the original source material: the Warrior Nun Areala comic books created by Ben Dunn.

Mr. English's vision was to develop a trilogy of feature films based on these comics. These movies would exist within the same universe as the Netflix series, offering a familiar yet fresh take on the characters and storylines, drawing inspiration from the original comics. To make this ambitious project a reality, a strong financial partner was needed, and this is where Productivity Media (PMI) came in.

PMI was slated to be the key financial backer for the Warrior Nun movie trilogy. They were to provide the substantial funding required to cover the costs of pre-production, filming, post-production, and all the other intricate elements involved in bringing a movie of this scale to the big screen. In essence, PMI was the financial engine that would drive the Warrior Nun movies forward. Their involvement was announced as a major victory, and we celebrated the continuation of the story we held so dear.

The Unfolding Crisis at PMI: Allegations and Receivership

Regrettably, the situation at PMI took a dramatic turn for the worse. The company, and specifically its CEO, William Santor, became embroiled in serious allegations of fraud. These were not minor accounting errors; we are talking about a complex scheme that allegedly involved the misappropriation of a staggering amount of money.

Here's a breakdown of the accusations:

• Creation of Fake Companies: Mr. Santor is accused of creating several Ontario corporations with names deceptively similar to legitimate film sales and distribution companies. These fake entities, referred to as "Imposter Corporations," were designed to mimic real companies like Radiant Films International and Dark Star Pictures.

• Impersonation and Falsified Documents: It is alleged that Mr. Santor registered fake domain names and email addresses to impersonate the principals of the legitimate companies he was mimicking. He then allegedly used these fake email accounts to falsify loan documents, including Advance Request Certificates, Sales Agent Agreements, and Short Form Term Sheets, electronically signing them as if he were a representative of the real companies.

• Misappropriation of Funds: The core of the alleged fraud revolved around what are known as Minimum Guarantee (MG) Loans. These loans were supposed to be made to sales agents and distributors to provide a "minimum guarantee" to film production companies. However, Mr. Santor allegedly directed these MG Loans to the bank accounts of the Imposter Corporations he controlled, rather than to the legitimate companies. The funds, instead of being used for their intended purpose, were allegedly used for Mr. Santor's personal benefit.

• A House of Cards: To conceal the fraud, Mr. Santor allegedly arranged for occasional repayments to the Fund of earlier MG Loans, using money from later MG Loans. This created the illusion of legitimate transactions while masking the ongoing diversion of funds.

The scale of the alleged fraud is substantial. Initial estimates suggested that at least $44.4 million CAD had been misappropriated, but some reports indicate the amount could be significantly higher.

These allegations sent shockwaves through the company and the film industry. An anonymous whistleblower report triggered an internal investigation, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was brought in to conduct a forensic investigation. The findings were damning, leading to Mr. Santor being placed on a leave of absence.

Ultimately, due to the severity of the financial mismanagement and the ongoing investigation, PMI was placed under the control of a court-appointed receiver, KSV Restructuring Inc. This means that an independent third party has taken over the management of the company to protect the interests of creditors and investors. PMI, as it existed, is essentially frozen, its operations halted, and its future uncertain.

The Likely Status of the Warrior Nun Films: A Difficult Truth

Given this devastating turn of events at PMI, we must now confront a harsh reality: it is extremely unlikely that the Warrior Nun movie trilogy, as it was initially conceived and planned with PMI's involvement, will move forward.

Here's a more detailed explanation of why:

• Financial Incapacity: With PMI in receivership and its assets under scrutiny, the company is in no position to finance any project, let alone a complex and expensive endeavor like a movie trilogy. The funds that were earmarked for the Warrior Nun movies are simply not available, and the company's ability to secure any new financing is virtually non-existent.

• Legal and Reputational Damage: The ongoing investigation and the serious allegations of fraud have severely damaged PMI's reputation and created a web of legal complications. Any project associated with PMI is now tainted by this scandal, making it incredibly difficult to attract new investors or partners. The trust that is essential in the film industry has been irrevocably broken.

• Operational Paralysis: With key personnel on leave, including the CEO, and the company under the control of a receiver, decision-making is at a standstill. The operational infrastructure needed to manage a film project of this magnitude is simply not functioning.

• Loss of a Key Champion: William Santor, despite the allegations against him, was a key figure in bringing the Warrior Nun movie project to PMI. With his departure and the company's collapse, the project has lost a crucial advocate within the organization. Dean English, in a recent communication, acknowledged the devastating impact of these events, stating that the suspension of PMI's CEO dealt "a significant blow" to the project. He, too, shares in our disappointment. His words confirm the unfortunate truth: the planned trilogy, as initially conceived with PMI's involvement, cannot proceed.

• The Conclusion: Regrettably, Mr. Santor took his own life in late December, causing further confusion in the resolution of the fraud case. While Dean English remains a strong supporter of Warrior Nun, the loss of PMI's internal support further jeopardizes the project's future.

A Somber Reality and a Glimmer of Hope

The situation is undeniably bleak. The actions of a few individuals at PMI have had far-reaching consequences, effectively derailing a movie trilogy that so many of us were eagerly anticipating. It is a situation filled with disappointment, and it is perfectly understandable to feel a sense of loss and frustration. We, as a community, had invested so much hope, energy, and passion into the possibility of these movies.

However, even in the face of this setback, it is important to remember the incredible journey we have shared as the Warrior Nun family. We fought tirelessly to save our show, and though this particular battle may be lost, the war for more Warrior Nun may not be over. The outpouring of love and support for this universe has been extraordinary, and it is possible that the Warrior Nun story may find new life in the future, in ways we cannot yet imagine. The passion of this fandom is a force to be reckoned with.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you updated if any new information emerges regarding the future of Warrior Nun. For now, let us remember the incredible bonds we have formed, the joy this story has brought us, and the strength of this community. The fight may have taken an unexpected turn, but the spirit of the OCS remains strong.

With heavy hearts, but unwavering hope,

The OCS Newsletter Team